A construction accident in New York City late last month left two workers struggling to survive with thousands of pounds of rubble on top of them. The workers were part of a crew assigned to demolish a building located at 439 Lincoln Road in Prospect Lefferts Garden in Brooklyn when one misstep left them trapped in a pile of debris. Around 2 PM the men were working on an upper floor that had been destabilized by the demolition when a brick wall collapsed bringing the floor above down on top of them.
Rescue efforts were hampered by the sheer amount of debris that tumbled to the sidewalk shed (and sidewalk) in front of the jobsite. EMTs arrived within minutes but had to wait until the structure was stabilized enough to enter before they could rescue the two men. One of the men was forced to stay trapped between the roof and the floor for over an hour before he could be pulled free.
An investigation into this partial building collapse in Brooklyn found that there have been multiple violations filed with the Department of Buildings concerning this job site. In practice, the roof and wall of the building should have been stabilized long before they were allowed to collapse. The victims will want to seek compensation from the at fault parties for their injuries and lost time from work.
But who are the at fault parties? New York Labor Law holds the property owner and general contractor for the project absolutely responsible for elevation related accidents such as these. The accident victims would be well-advised to consult with an attorney well versed and experienced in such accidents so they can be assured of obtaining the best result possible.
If you or a loved one has been injured at any job site in the city, you need the help of a professional construction accident lawyer in New York City to get the maximum compensation you’re entitled to. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for your free consultation today.